For notes see Part 1

For notes see Part 1.

In this part a lot happens, you can tell I was getting excited. Also there is a cameo from someone on my friends list, a certain Harry Potter fan. In my next fic I may let someone else on my f-list guest star.

Feedback welcome!

Lisa

x

lj-cut Part Seven

Lois chucked another bucket of ice into the bath as the cold water continued to run. She was already naked and absolutely boiling, she felt so hot she felt like she wanted to tear her skin off.

"Lois what are you doing?" Clark cried as he put his head around the bathroom door.

"Well you weren't here so I had to get some ice from the store," Lois replied. She seemed calm which was good.

"Are you going to get in that?"

"Clark I can't explain this, all I know is that I need to lay in a bath of ice". Lois turned the taps off and Clark put his hand in the bath tub.

"That is cold".

Lois got into the tub and chucked the last bucket of ice over the top of herself. It was pleasurable and she squealed in delight.

"Oh yeh".

"Is that good for the baby?" Clark asked, he couldn't help but be a little amused by the weird occurrence. Lois hated being cold almost as much as she hated being hot. It seemed humans were forever trying to get the right temperature.

"Clark I can only do what my body tells me, no one knows what a Kryptonian pregnancy is like, maybe this is normal," Lois said. "Ooh it's happened again". Lois winced slightly and rubbed her back.

"What?"

"I think it's a contraction," Lois said quietly, not looking Clark in the eye.

"A contraction," Clark said and he smiled, he resisted the urge not to leap around the room. "Are you sure?"

"Please Clark don't get excited, it might not be the real thing".

"Have you had any other contractions?"

"Just for a few hours," Lois replied in an almost childlike manner Clark usually found cute.

"And you didn't tell me?"

"Like I said Clark".

"Maybe we should call the midwife just in case," Clark said taking his mobile phone out of his pocket.

"No," Lois cried sounding close to desperate. "I".

"Are you OK? Sweetheart maybe you should get out of that bath".

"It's happening isn't it?" Lois said, fear was slowly gripping a hold of her and she held out her arm. Clark took hold of her hand and she stood up. "I don't feel so hot now".

Clark lifted Lois out of the bath and placed her on the floor gently. He ran out into the living room to find Lex coming in through the front door of the barn.

"Clark I visited Chloe's grave this morning I –," he began.

"Lex, Lois has gone into labor," Clark cried excitedly. He dashed up to the bedroom and back down to the bathroom with a bathrobe. Lois put the bathrobe on and waddled out into the living room.

"What was that about Chloe?" she asked.

"There was a man, he took a picture of me at Chloe's grave," Lex explained as Clark dialled the midwife's number.

"Maybe he's the same man who took that picture of you and Lana on that horse and who said Superman thinks he's Jesus and who originally leaked the fact you were released from prison – in fact I'd bet on it," Lois said getting into journalism mode.

"Lois we can't think about this now," Clark said frowning and he spoke into the mouth piece of his phone. "Hello Elizabeth. It's Clark Kent. Lois has been having some contractions. A few hours. Huh huh. I'll come and get you, uh-huh – I'll be gentle". Clark flipped his phone closed and put it into his pocket. He whooshed around and turned into his Superman costume. "Lex stay with Lois. I'll be back with Elizabeth and Dr Kline in a few moments". Clark kissed Lois on the forehead and he was gone.

Lois got into the water pool wearing a large baggy t-shirt. She couldn't lay there naked no matter how natural it was, not in front of Dr Kline – it was bad enough he saw anything else. Mothers have always said to her you lose all your dignity after giving birth and that you have no shame after that. That was one of many things Lois was afraid of when it came to motherhood. She was proud and to put the control of her life and her baby in the hands of others made her feel weak. That was why she had to do it her way. The water was an immediate relief and importantly it made her feel clean. The slight breeze in the air made her feel calm and she could concentrate on the open fields rather than on the pain if even for just a few seconds.

"I don't know if this is safe in the circumstances," Dr Kline said feeling the temperature of the water with his hand. It was pleasantly warm.

"If Lois wants to have an outside water birth it's her decision," Elizabeth said smiling nervously.

Clark took hold of Lois's hand as she pushed again her face going red from the strain.

"Isn't this going against gravity?" Lois cried. "Maybe I should stand or squat or lean over".

"Do whatever feels comfortable dear," Elizabeth said softly.

"I feel comfortable like this," Lois replied. "Or as comfortable as I'm gonna be".

The midwife who was bent down next to Lois put her hands in the water to feel what was going on.

"Oh, when's it going to stop?" Lois cried after another fifteen minutes of strain. Clark looked on helpless. This was one thing he could not control. This was different from those births he had been present at as Superman. He was terrified.

Lois moaned again, she felt tired. It had only been four hours but it had felt like an eternity.

"The head – he's almost there," the midwife cried. "Just one more push Lois".

"Lois he's nearly here," Clark cried and he let go of Lois's hand – aware he may be crushing it.

Lois groaned and the strangest sensation, painful, pleasurable in some way overcame her body and the midwife took hold of the baby and pulled him out of the water which was fairly shallow. Lois and Clark could see him – a perfect, delicate baby with fine dark hair.

"Oh," Lois sighed. "Thank God".

"He's not crying," Clark said and the midwife unalarmed smacked the baby gently. For a moment Clark felt his stomach do somersaults. The baby let out a huge cry for a second and Clark found himself running almost compulsively round to the side of the barn. He began crying, he couldn't take it.

The baby began crying again realising his cold and naked state and the midwife wrapped him in a blanket and handed him to Lois. Lois recognised the blanket but was too much in shock to think about it now.

"You have a beautiful baby boy," Elizabeth said smiling. Dr Kline struggled to hold back a tear. "We better cut the cord".

"Ooh," Lois cried as the cord at that moment turned black and disintegrated leaving the baby with a perfectly formed belly button. "Where's Clark?"

"I'm not sure," Dr Kline said as the pool filled with blood. "Oh my".

Lois stood up holding the baby in one arm and pushing herself up with the other.

"Lois get back down," Elizabeth said sternly.

"I feel fine," Lois said and she stepped out of the pool and onto the grass. She walked around to where Clark was stood wiping his eye on the sleeve of his jumper.

"Lois," he cried.

"Someone wants his Daddy," she said softly, she was smiling but had tears in her eyes. She had never felt anything like it.

"I'm sorry I don't know what happened," Clark replied quietly. "Sit down, you'll hurt yourself, your legs are covered in blood". She looked a state and yet Clark felt she had never looked so beautiful. There she was offering the greatest gift to him that anyone could. He x-rayed her.

"Clark I feel fine," Lois said. "Do you want to hold your son?"

Lois handed Clark to him and he gazed down lovingly at his naked child.

"He has six toes on his left foot," he said smiling.

"Oh yeh," Lois said touching his little foot and the baby started to cry again. What was this scary place?

Dr Kline and Elizabeth came around the side of the barn.

"Lois we need to get you and the baby inside now," Elizabeth said a sense of urgency in her voice.

"I feel fine," Lois insisted and all of a sudden she felt faint. She fell back and Dr Kline caught her. She was human again.

Lex walked into The Inquisitor editorial office Monday morning dressed in a well tailored designer suit and carrying a leather briefcase. It had nothing in it apart from his lunch Martha had made for him but he felt like being business like – it had been a while.

"How did you get in here?" one of the reporters asked as the others simply sat looking around them with confused expressions on their faces.

"I'm Lex Luthor," Lex replied followed by a confident smile.

The editor came out of her office and motioned with her hands for Lex to join her. She could not have her staff distracted any longer. Lex went into the office and closed the door behind him. She had a window looking over Metropolis which Lex stood by – he liked windows.

"Mr Luthor, how did you get past security?"

"I think they were so surprised to see me they forgot to stop me," Lex said – amused. "People forget I still own 20 of this rag".

"That's because it's not something we tell people".

Lex looked at the name plate on the desk – Mary Potter.

"Ms Potter," Lex began.

"It's Mrs".

"Mrs Potter – why do you think I'm here?"

"Is this a philosophical question you're asking me Mr Luthor?" Mary asked with a slight wry grin.

"Not exactly. I'm not here about my share prices either".

"I suppose this is about the recent headlines. We print what's news - you know that".

"The authorities and myself wanted my release kept strictly confidential. They and I wanted me to have the opportunity to go quietly. They knew I had a lot of money invested all over the world, the only person they could trust with my money was myself".

"With all due respect Mr Luthor the majority believe you should have been left to rot in jail".

"That maybe so". Lex supported himself on the table. It had taken him all his energy to get spruced up and get the train from Grandville. "I would be well within my rights to sue. The story this Noslen guy printed about Lana Ross and myself was complete lies. Then again why sue my company and what would a dying man do with money anyway?"

"So what do you want me to do exactly?" Mary asked. Lex's behaviour concerned her.

"Tell me who Noslen is," Lex said looking Mary in the eye.

"I can't, Noslen is a freelance writer, personal details of all our freelance writers is strictly confidential – you know that. He's hard to track down – ours is not the only paper he works for".

Lex sat down on a bench, took his mobile phone out of his pocket and called Clark's number.

"Hello," - a female whisper echoed on the other end of the line.

"Lois is that you?"

"Lex – Clark's giving the baby a bath – we're trying to get him to sleep".

"I went to 'The Inquisitor'".

"What happened?" Lois asked.

"The editor couldn't tell me anything but she was hinting at something. She said he doesn't only work for The Inquisitor," Lex replied. "I went to The Journal but none of the staff there look like the guy I saw – most of the male staff were either black, Asian or overweight. The guy I saw was definitely white and he was thin".

"How about The Planet?"

"The Planet is pro Superman".

"Exactly whoever's been writing these articles probably thinks The Planet is the best place for any insider information".

"Then Noslen is definitely working under an alias".

"I would imagine so," Lois said and both she and Lex could hear the baby cry in the background. "Oh he's crying again. Clark is so good with him I just keep freaking out".

"Lois I'm sure you're doing fine," Lex said smiling. "Things like that just come naturally to Clark. Why don't you send Clark to help me and spend some time with the baby just the two of you?"

"Well I'm no good to anyone at the moment, I feel like I'm wearing a diaper".

Lex laughed.

"That's exactly what Chloe said when-," he stopped mid sentence.

"I'll send Clark, where are you Lex?"

"I'm sat on a bench opposite the Donut Shack near the gardens – tell Clark I've got a donut waiting for him".

"It's been a long time since we've worked as a team," Lex said smiling as they entered The Daily Planet editorial office.

"Did we ever work as a team?" Clark replied also smiling. Their rivalry was almost becoming a joke.

"Clark what are you doing here?" Perry cried. "Lex".

Lex nodded at Perry and began looking around the office to see if he recognised anyone. Most of the reporters appeared to be out.

"Noslen," Clark said as he and Lex went into Perry's office and closed the door. "He's done it again – this time taking pictures of Lex at Chloe's grave. It's like he's stalking us".

"So you want to find out who he is, why are you here?"

"Whoever it is must have found out from somewhere about Lex's release and who knew apart from us?" Clark cried.

"We need to check everyone's pads," Lex said.

"I don't think anyone would have their copy on their staff pads besides most of the reporters have got their pads with them," Perry said.

"Well let's get a list of suspects. How many white male reporters are on The Planet staff?" Lex said. "The guy was definitely white".

"Could it have been a woman?" Perry asked.

"No the build of the person was male, he was about 5'9" and either bald or had his hair tucked under his cap".

"What was the brand of camera he was using?" Clark asked.

"It was one of those Sony mini digitals, you can barely see people are carrying those".

"Well none of the Planet staff have those as standard," Perry said.

"Was he carrying anything else with him?" Clark asked.

"Just a plain brown leather bag. He had made sure he wasn't wearing anything unusual".

Clark turned the only desk PC on which included staff details and any other confidential files on the hard drive. Once the computer had loaded up he began typing quickly and his eyes dashed across the screen.

"I've whittled it down to 83 staff across the paper who are white males, 79 are 5'9" or taller, 13 are qualified journalists".

Lex leaned over and looked at the computer screen.

"It's hard to tell from head shots".

"Maybe the clue is in the alias," Perry said. "Noslen".

"It doesn't mean anything," Clark said. "Unless it's an anagram".

"Perry think seriously for a minute," Lex said. "Is there anyone who has a grudge against Clark or myself? Is there someone who you think is capable of being so unscrupulous? Who has the necessary skills as a photographer?"

"I don't think anyone in my staff would write stories that are based so much on opinion rather than fact and who would say those things about Superman".

"Right we have nine members of staff who have the necessary skills as a photographer," Clark said. "George Clancy, Robert Bruce, Peter Nelson".

"Nelson," Lex cried and he wrote the name down. "It's so simple it's clever". He wrote the name down backwards and laughed. "This Peter Nelson is Noslen – it must be. Who is he?"

"He's one of my newer members of staff, he hasn't really found his niche yet – he writes random pieces," Perry said. "His résumé was impressive. He did a lot of work for Peter Ross when he was vice president, he was part of your personal press and PR team Lex – I'm surprised you never met him".

"Lex was busy trying to trick Lois into marrying him around that time," Clark remarked. "Or he was trying to kill me".

"I mainly got my PA to deal with that stuff," Lex said. "Well now we think we know who he is what are we going to do?"

"There are laws about invading the privacy of celebrities," Perry said.

"And making up complete lies about people," Clark added.

"But we don't want to sue him do we?" Lex cried. "I mean Superman could never sue anyone and I'm dying – I don't have time".

"Personally I just want to know why he's doing this and I want him to stop," Clark said a recognisable look of determination in his eyes and the two older men nodded in agreement.

Lex and Clark travelled back on the Metropolis to Grandville line together that afternoon. Sometimes Clark liked to sit and think – travel normally rather than flying or running super speed all the time. Also Lex seemed to be looking a bit sickly again.

"Tomorrow I'll search through Nelsons stuff and we can confront him," Clark said.

"Let's hope it's just him who's got it in for us and there isn't someone bigger behind it," Lex replied laying back and closing his eyes.

"They're just some malicious newspaper articles. I suppose the worst thing that happened was that guy firing that rocket at you and the protestors outside the farm".

Lex opened his eyes again as his phone vibrated in his pocket.

He flipped the phone open and put it to his ear.

"Hello," he said.

"Lex," Lana replied. "Pete's taking the kids to see his Mom in Wichita tonight and they're staying the night. I thought this might be a perfect opportunity".

"Clark's with me".

"You don't think he's listening to us".

"I don't know," Lex said looking over at him.

"I am now you mentioned my name," Clark said and he moved opposite Lex and looked outside at the Kansas countryside.

"Why aren't you going to his Mom's?" Lex asked.

"I said I'm ill. Pete knows I'm lying he just thinks it's to avoid seeing his mother". Lex could tell Lana was smiling even though he couldn't see her.

"I'll see you at your place at seven, I'll bring some take out".

"See you later Lex".

"Bye," Lex said smiling slightly and he closed his phone and put it back in his trouser pocket.

"Was that Lana on the phone?" Clark asked.

"Yeh".

"You guys have been hanging out a lot".

"So?"

"It's nice," Clark said turning away from the window and looking at Lex. "She's been a lot more forgiving that the rest of us".

"I'm sorry," Lex said as he lay naked on the bed in Lana and Pete's spare room that evening. Both of them found that preferable to sleeping in Pete and Lana's marital bed.

"You've given me a great orgasm – why apologise?" Lana lay back on the bed smiling.

"Well at least my tongue still works," Lex said and he wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. He placed his hands on Lana's breasts which were sliding away from each other as she lay down. Her nipples were hard either because of her recent orgasm or because it was getting cold – Lex couldn't tell. He bent down and gently bit her left nipple which made Lana laugh and he began gently kissing her breasts and licking the space between them which again made Lana laugh.

"Lex you're ill, I'm surprised you have as much energy as you do". Lana got up and touched Lex's scar on his stomach, she bent down and placed her mouth around his penis and her hand around the base of it. She began to suck it and gripped it hard and Lex turned on his side so she could touch his buttocks with the other hand.

"There it is," Lex cried. "Quick before it goes away again".

Lana giggled and lay on her back. Lex thrust into her quite roughly and she grabbed his buttocks and pushed him deeper inside her. It wasn't as hard as it could be but it was hard enough.

"Lana," Pete cried as he entered the front door of the house.

"Did you hear something?" Lana asked Lex. Lex shook his head.

The kids ran into the living room as Pete went up the stairs.

"I was just turning off route 8 and Mom called to say she was feeling sick and she didn't want us to come," he said. "Lana".

Pete flung open the door of the spare room which was the only door which wasn't wide open to find Lex's bare buttocks and his wife's flushed face staring back at him.

"Oh no – Pete," Lana cried and Pete stormed back down the stairs without saying a word.

"I better get out of here," Lex said getting off of Lana and he quickly lost his erection.

"What is he doing here?" Lana cried sitting up and burying her face in her hands. "He was supposed to be staying away tonight".

"I'm so sorry Lana," Lex said as he pulled his briefs on. He actually felt guilty and nervous. "You can come with me if you want – let Pete cool off".

"No I should face him," Lana said as she pulled her underwear on. She felt all wet from Lex's saliva and decided to forget getting dressed properly and put a bathrobe on. "I'll call you tomorrow".

Clark snuck into the locker room where some of the Planet editorial staff kept their belongings they didn't necessarily want to carry out with them when chasing a story. He knew Nelson was on his way out to cover the Mayoral elections. He X-rayed Nelsons locker and then bashed it with his fist – the door flung open.

"Bingo," Clark said as he found Nelsons mini digital camera. He turned it on and began flicking through the pictures – nothing inconspicuous there. In fact the camera was pretty empty. Clark found Nelson's PAD in the locker and began trying to figure out the password. It wasn't too difficult as after two minutes of super speed typing Clark had figured it out. Clark smiled to himself as he found Nelson's copy of the Inquisitor articles and emails from the Editor.

"What are you doing in my things?" Nelson cried as he entered the locker room –just as Clark had predicted.

"Let's see articles for The Inquisitor, emails to the editor of The Inquisitor," Clark said holding the PAD up to Nelsons face briefly.

"How did you get access to that?" Nelson cried, aggressively.

"Oh and look at these lovely pictures – Lex Luthor and Lana Lang on a horse, Lex Luthor at the grave yard," Clark said sarcastically. He flicked onto the next picture and anger suddenly swept over him. "What the hell is this?"

"Isn't it a lovely picture?" Nelson smiled a rather vile smile despite having perfectly straight teeth.

Clark knew this picture must have only been taken last night – it was of him in his Superman suit holding the baby. Lois was with him by the window of the barn conversion.

"Perfect family portrait I would say," Nelson said.

"You took this last night," Clark said. "Superman came over to see the baby. Why would you have pictures like this?"

"Superman came to see the baby – that's a likely story," Nelson remarked a wicked laugh in his voice. "I was outside that barn all night and I never saw Superman leave – I saw you leaving this morning though".

"Well Superman is very fast".

"You know at first I thought Lois and Superman were having an affair. It's not the first time somebody's suggested it. It would explain her sudden disappearance to go on maternity leave – all the secrecy surrounding the pregnancy. She's had an alien child".

"My son isn't an alien," Clark said, annoyed.

"Oh no he's half human as well – Lois is his mother. And you, well I tried to figure out where you fit into all of this. It's not just a case of Lois stringing along two men these past four years is it? There is only one man – you are Superman," Nelson said smiling as he took hold of his digital camera which was still sat in the locker. He ripped Clark's shirt to reveal the suit underneath and as Clark tried to stop him Nelson took a picture and moved away – he then took another picture. "I'm going to write the best story ever written – that you are Superman and that that baby of yours is an alien".

Nelson stepped back and bumped into Perry who had just entered the room. Perry snatched the camera off of Nelson and threw it to Clark who swallowed the camera whole. He hated doing it but it was the quickest way of getting rid of it.

"He just ate my camera – that proves it," Nelson cried an almost manic tone to his voice.

"Take your stuff and get out," Perry said. "I think working for another paper and harassing members of my staff is good enough grounds for dismissal – don't you?"

"If you sack me I will tell everyone that Clark is Superman," Nelson cried.

"Clark isn't Superman".

"But I just saw him eat my camera". Clark proceeded to crush Nelson's PAD into a small ball of metal and he threw it in the waste paper basket.

"I didn't see anything," Perry cried smiling and shaking his head.

"Fine I don't need your crappy job anyway," Nelson replied in a petulant manner. "I'll still find a way to prove I'm right".

"You're lucky it's just you're job you're losing". Perry moved out of Nelsons way so he could leave the room. "All the trouble you've caused".

"What have you got against me and Lex anyway?" Clark asked.

"When I found out Lex was staying at the farm I knew it was a perfect opportunity to make a name for myself if I told the story. Then I saw even more money could be made from Superman stories especially negative ones. I've got nothing against any of you. Though I will say this Clark – you need to watch who you're friends are. There are a lot of people out there who have got something against you," Nelson said seriously for a minute.

He walked off down the hall.

"What a cocky little bastard," Perry remarked and Clark smiled with the relief that maybe now this was all over.

"Oh I wish I'd have been there," Lois said as she put the baby in his cot by the sofa. "Now I'm a mother I feel like I'm never going to have any adventures again".

"It was hardly an adventure," Clark said smiling as Lois put her rimless glasses on and sat down on the sofa. She picked up the remote control.

"It's more exciting than what I've been doing all day". Lois sighed. "What's wrong with me? Shouldn't I be happy we've got a baby?"

"I'm sorry I should have come home straight after the Nelson thing".

"What and leave those people dying in that burning building and let that lady get knocked down by that train?"

"Well I could have let the fire service deal with the burning building and technically that lady wanted to get hit by that train."

"That's sad," Lois said and she could feel tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm sorry I keep crying at everything".

Clark sat next to Lois on the sofa and put his arms around her. Lois reciprocated the gesture and Clark kissed her gently on the lips. She kissed him back tenderly. He pulled away and took a tissue from the coffee table and handed it to Lois who wiped her eyes.

"You know it feels like we haven't kissed for weeks," Lois said sadly.

"It's only been a few days," Clark said smiling.

"I don't know why I'm surprised I'm feeling like this – I've read all the books about post natal depression and baby blues. I've read so many articles about how babies are boring and heard so many women complain how they feel like they're going crazy being indoors all day. I'm so tired and he's only 4 days old".

"I don't want you feeling like that," Clark said taking hold of both Lois's hands in his. "I want you to be happy".

"I am happy Clark – I have everything I could ever want – look at him". Lois looked across at the cot and Clark smiled.

"Me too," he said. "Except for one thing".

"What's that?"

"Do you wanna get married?"

"OK," Lois said almost laughing. She supposed she should. She supposed she wanted to. It was about time.

"Cool," Clark replied smiling and he kissed Lois again. "I love you".

"I love you". Lois stood up and went to her son again who was laying on his back looking as far as his vision would let him. At a few days old everything was a bit of a blur. Lois kissed the little one on the forehead.

"Clark," she said hesitantly. "Can you still hear him?"

"Can you?"

"Yeh," Lois said. "I was frightened that once I'd given birth to him I wouldn't be able to sense his feelings like I did when I was pregnant".

"It's quite good to know when he's hungry or needs his nappy changing or if he just wants attention – we don't have to guess like human parents," Clark said and then he grinned slightly. "Whether I want to know his thoughts when he's a teenager is another thing".

"I suppose he'll learn how to keep his thoughts from us".

"Telepathy certainly has its good points," Clark said as he came up behind Lois and put his arms around her. "Like when I can feel what you feel when you come – that's probably the only time I've ever been jealous of a woman".

"Giving birth is the only time I've ever been jealous of men".

"Would you rather have not had the experience? Isn't there something special about it?"

"I suppose in the sense our son was once a part of me – that'll never change. But I'd prefer it without the pain. I suppose I'm lucky I've been healing so quickly. That was weird how the cord and the placenta just disintegrated. Also Dr Kline and Elizabeth said my uterus should be back to normal size in a week – it normally takes six".

"If Kryptonians are more evolved than humans I suppose it makes sense for childbirth to be easier," Clark said and he let go of Lois and stood up straight. "I suppose I should see if Mom and Dad are doing anything for dinner".

"Clark – have you thought more about what we're gonna call him?"

"I'm not sure".

"Maybe we could call him something Kryptonian, what's Kryptonian for noble or something like that?"

"Schalem Konoria," Clark replied smiling.

"How about Kal as a name?"

"Oh right," Clark cried sarcastically. "How did you get my name daddy, well you see son I named you after what I called myself when I was evil breaking into ATM machines".

"Ok you obviously don't like that idea," Lois said smiling. "Maybe we could name him after your father".

"Jonathan?"

"No your biological father".

"We can't call our son Jor-El, apart from the fact that would raise suspicion slightly the other kids might make fun of him".

"Well obviously – I meant Joe. That's what he called himself when he was here". "Joseph sounds better - that's OK for when he's older it's not really a baby name," Clark said thoughtfully. "It's easy enough to shorten".

"Well calling him Joey for example will just remind me of Matt Le Blanc".

"How about Seph – that sounds cool?" Clark cried. "Joseph Kent, Seph Kent – sounds good though a little serious".

"I suppose it's the traditional thing for him to take your name".

"Well he can have your name if you want – Joseph Lane sounds just as good," Clark said.

"Well I suppose I'll be taking your name soon," Lois cried pushing Clark onto the couch and clambering on top of him. Clark laughed and kissed his fiancé.

Jonathan and Martha came in; both were carrying large glass dishes.

"You're supposed to be new parents – shouldn't Lois be covered in baby sick or something?" Martha remarked smiling. "I bought you some chicken casserole".

Lois got up off of Clark and Clark sat up on the sofa.

"He doesn't really throw up much," Lois said smiling. "He err did yesterday for the first time if that makes you happy but I was bouncing him up and down a bit too much so that might be why".

"He seems to like being up in the air," Clark added with a grin. "Unlike me when I was younger".

"You two look very cheerful," Jonathan said, the smiling was infectious.

"We named the baby," Lois cried excitedly. "And Clark asked me to marry him".

"About time," Jonathan said smiling and he patted his son on the shoulder.

"Congratulations," Martha added. "What did you call the baby?"

"Joseph," Clark replied. "Seph for short. It's kind of after my biological father".

"That's nice," Martha said looking at Jonathan who looked unmoved. "Anyway we better put this in the oven".

"Don't worry about it Mom," Clark said taking his glasses down his nose a notch. "I'll take care of it".

TBC. /lj-cut